Mesh laundry bag

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a mesh laundry bag, which comprises a mesh container and an elastic closure unit. The mesh container comprises an opening. The elastic closure unit is disposed on the opening to maintain its closed state. By replacing the traditional closure units like zippers with the elastic closure unit, the mesh laundry bag enables one-handed operation for opening and closing, allowing users to use their other hand to place laundry inside the bag. Moreover, the absence of closure units such as zippers significantly reduces the risk of clothing damage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mesh laundry bag, particularly a meshlaundry bag designed for use in a washing machine, aimed at addressingthe technical problems associated with the opening and closingmechanisms of existing mesh laundry bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram illustrates a of the prior artmesh laundry bag 10. The mesh laundry bag 10 includes a mesh bag 11 anda closure unit 12. In the prior art, the closure unit 12 commonlyfeatured a zipper structure, although it can also be a Velcro ordrawstring enclosure. The important common point of the above structuresis their requirement for the use of both hands in operating theopening/closing mechanism of the mesh laundry bag 10. The following arethe operational scenarios of the prior art mesh laundry bag 10:

The first scenario involves placing clothes into the mesh laundry bag.First, one hand holds the opened mesh laundry bag while the other handputs the clothes in. Then, both hands are required to close the meshlaundry bag (zipping up the zipper or fastening the Velcro). The secondscenario involves removing clothes from the mesh laundry bag. First,both hands are used to open the mesh laundry bag (unzipping the zipperor detaching the Velcro), following which the clothes are taken out fromthe mesh laundry bag.

Due to the relatively soft nature of the mesh laundry bag itself, andthe need to pull the zipper or Velcro straight (similar to how a coathangs vertically due to gravity or the zipper on a structured leatherbag maintains its shape through support) to optimize the operation,users are required to use both hands to open and close the bag'sopening.

In addition, zippers and Velcro are susceptible to causing damage toclothing by snagging or adhering to them.

Therefore, there are technical problems in the prior art: 1. Theexisting closure methods necessitate the use of both hands to open andclose the mesh laundry bag; 2. Zippers and Velcro, due to their inherentstructures, have the potential to damage clothes.

Hence, it is necessary to propose an innovative mesh laundry bag thataddresses the aforementioned technical problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the technical problem, the present invention introduces amesh laundry bag that utilizes an elastic closure unit to replace theconventional closure unit such as zipper. This innovative design enablesusers to open and close the mesh laundry bag using just one hand,leaving the other hand free to place clothes into the bag. Additionally,eliminating the use of zippers or similar closure units significantlyreduces the risk of clothing damage.

To overcome the technical problems of the conventional art, theobjective of the present invention is to provide a mesh laundry bag,which comprises a mesh container and an elastic closure unit. The meshcontainer comprises an opening. The elastic closure unit is disposed onthe opening to securely keep the opening closed.

In one preferred embodiment, the elastic closure unit comprises at leastone elastic plate.

In one preferred embodiment, the at least one elastic plate comprises afirst elastic plate and a second elastic plate, with both ends of thefirst elastic plate and the second elastic plate fixed to each other.

In one preferred embodiment, the at least one elastic plate comprises apair of force-bearing parts capable of receiving a pair of externalforce to open the opening.

In one preferred embodiment, the pair of force-bearing parts areselected from the group consisting of bump, hole, groove, pull ring, andpull rod.

In one preferred embodiment, the at least one elastic plate comprises aholding part, disposed between the pair of force-bearing parts.

In one preferred embodiment, the pair of force-bearing parts aredisposed symmetrically to the holding part.

In one preferred embodiment, the pair of force-bearing parts areselected from the group consisting of bump, hole and groove.

In one preferred embodiment, the pair of force-bearing parts are spacedapart at a specific distance; the specific distance ranging from 1 cm tocm.

In one preferred embodiment, the pair of force-bearing parts are spacedapart at a specific distance; the specific distance ranging from 8 cm tocm.

In one preferred embodiment, at least one blocking member is disposed onthe at least one elastic plate, positioned in a direction from the atleast one elastic plate to the opening when the opening is in the openstate.

In one preferred embodiment, the at least one elastic plate comprises afirst elastic plate, a second elastic plate, and a pair of elongatedparts. The first elastic plate and the second elastic plate are disposedon each of the pair of elongated parts, with both ends of the pair ofelongated parts fixed to each other.

Compared to the conventional arts, the present invention introduces amesh laundry bag that replaces the existing closure unit (such as azipper or hook and loop buckles) with an elastic closure unit. Thisenables the bag to be opened and closed using just one hand, while theother hand can put clothes into the bag. At the same time, the removalof zippers or other closure units reduces the risk of clothing damage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the mesh laundry bag in the priorart;

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the mesh laundrybag of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of the meshlaundry bag of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view schematic diagram of the opening of the firstpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present inventionwhen opened;

FIG. 5 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of the secondpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the thirdpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the fourthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of the fifthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of the sixthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of theseventh preferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of theeighth preferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 12 shows an exploded top view schematic diagram of the eighthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description presents the embodiments of the illustration,referring to specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. Terms such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”,“inside”, “outside”, “side”, etc., are used in relation to theorientation depicted in the diagram. These directional terms are used tofacilitate understanding of the present invention and should not beinterpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 2-4 , FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional schematicdiagram of the mesh laundry bag 100 of the present invention; FIG. 3shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening 110 of the meshlaundry bag 100 of the present invention; FIG. 4 shows a top viewschematic diagram from the opening 110 of the first preferred embodimentof the mesh laundry bag 100 of the present invention when it is opened.The mesh laundry bag 100 comprises a mesh container 11, an elasticclosure unit 120, a pair of force-bearing parts 130, a holding part 140,and at least one buckle 150. The mesh container 11 comprises an opening110, and the elastic closure unit 120 is disposed on the opening 110 andto keep it closed. In this embodiment, the elastic closure unit 120includes a first elastic plate 122 and a second elastic plate 124. Theopening 110 is remains closed state through the inherent elasticity ofthe elastic plates themselves, preforming (as in this preferredembodiment), or by using elastic plates of varying lengths.Specifically, the two ends of the first elastic plate 122 and the secondelastic plate 124 are fixed to each other (sewing or bonding can beused). Preferred, a hinge can be used for fixation. However, othercoupling methods, such as using pins, can also be used as long as theopening 110 can naturally remain closed through elasticity. Thedescribed methods are not exhaustive and other suitable methods can beemployed as well.

It should be noted that in this preferred embodiment, due to thepresence of the holding part 140, the opening 110 will not be fullyclosed. This closing situation is similar to the mesh container 11,where although there are holes, clothes will not fall out through theseholes. In other words, the term “closing” of the opening 110 in thepresent invention refers to preventing clothes inside the mesh container11 from falling out and does not require complete closure. Clothes canonly be removed when the opening 110 is opened.

Preferably, the length of the first elastic plate 122 and the secondelastic plate 124 is less than or equal to a circumference of theopening 110.

The holding part 140 is mainly designed to work in conjunction with thepair of force-bearing parts 130. Here, taking the first elastic plate122 as an example, in terms of ergonomics, an average person can usetheir thumb and index finger to press on the pair of application'sportions 130 respectively, which can cause the first elastic plate 122to deform (and also affect the deformation of the second elastic plate124, as shown in FIG. 4 ) and open the opening 110. However, if theholding part 140 is provided, it can further enhance the userexperience. When user applies an external force to the pair offorce-bearing parts 130 with the thumb and index finger (or othercombination of fingers), if the index finger touches the holding part140, it can stabilize the first elastic plate 122 and apply force to thepair of force-bearing parts 130, further deforming the elastic plates.It should be noted that the pair of force-bearing parts 130 are selectedfrom a group consisting of bulges, holes, grooves, pull rings, and pullrods, and are not limited to bulges as in this embodiment. In thisembodiment, the holding part 140 is a circular hole, but it can also bea group selected from bulges, holes, or grooves, and is not limited tothis.

It should be noted that in this preferred embodiment, the holding part140 is slightly biased towards one of the pair of force-bearing parts130 to allow users to freely operate with either their left or righthand, so that when the opening 110 is opened, it tilts slightly to oneside as shown in FIG. 4 .

As mentioned earlier, the main purpose of the present invention is toallow users to operate the mesh laundry bag with one hand whenopening/closing it. Therefore, the pair of force-bearing parts 130 arelocated at a specific distance, and the specific distance is between 1cm and 20 cm. As a result, most people can operate it with one hand.Ideally, the specific distance between 8 cm and 15 cm is suitable forgeneral use. Generally speaking, the specific distance will to someextent affect the size of the opening 110. However, after repeatedexperiments by the inventor, it was found that when the specificdistance is between 8 cm and 15 cm, users can achieve a better balancebetween ease of use and the degree to which the opening 110 is opened(the ease of putting clothes into the mesh laundry bag) while alsorequiring less effort to use. This allows users to easily put clothesinto the opening 110 without having to use too much force.

In the preferred embodiment, to enhance the effectiveness of the closureunit 120 in closing the opening 110, a buckle 150 has been incorporatedonto the holding part 140. This additional feature is aimed at reducingthe elasticity of the closure unit 120 and preventing the opening 110from opening during operation in a washing machine.

In actual operation, the user's index finger and thumb apply externalforces 132, 134 to the force-bearing parts 130, and the second elasticplate 124 also naturally opens in the opposite direction to make theopening 110 naturally open.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the present invention's second preferredembodiment of the mesh laundry bag 11 is depicted in a top viewschematic diagram from the opening 110. The component symbols referredto in this preferred embodiment are illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 and willnot be reiterated. The key distinction between this preferred embodimentand the first preferred embodiment is the elimination of the buckle 150.By removing the buckle 150, the production difficulty and userexperience can be further simplified provided that the elasticity of theclosure unit 120 is sufficient.

Referring to FIG. 6 , which depicts a schematic diagram of the thirdpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag 11 of the presentinvention, the component symbols mentioned in this embodiment can bereferred to in FIGS. 2 to 4 and will not be repeated here. The thirdpreferred embodiment differs from the second preferred embodiment inthat the holding parts 140 now overlap laterally. Due to the overlap ofthe two holding parts 140 (shown as dashed lines) of the first plate 122and the second plate 124, the two pairs of force-bearing parts 130 cannow be symmetrically positioned relative to the center of the firstplate 122 and the second plate 124. This ensures that the opening 110can be symmetrically opened to allow for easy putting in of clothes, asthe force distribution is even. In contrast, the first preferredembodiment necessitated the two holding parts 140 of the first elasticplate 122 and the second elastic plate 124 to be staggered, whichprecluded them from being positioned at the center. As a result, the twopairs of application's portions 130 were not symmetrically positioned.

FIG. 7 depicts a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a preferredembodiment of the mesh laundry bag, with reference to component symbolsshown in FIGS. 2-4 . The present embodiment differs from the firstpreferred embodiment by featuring an elastic closure unit 120 whichcomprises only a first elastic plate 122 and a second elastic plate 124.The opening 110 in the present embodiment is size-variable, not limitedto the illustration. Advantageously, the user can directly place laundryinto the mesh container 11 without having to use both hands toopen/close the bag, as is required by existing technologies. Instead,the elasticity of the closure unit 120 keeps the opening 110 closed,preventing the clothes from falling out, except when a force is appliedor when the bag is in the washing machine.

FIG. 8 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of the fifthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention.The component symbols referenced in this embodiment are described inFIGS. 2 to 7 , and will not be reiterated here. Unlike the firstpreferred embodiment, the second elastic plate 124 does not feature thepair of application's portions 130 and gripping portion 140. Theembodiment does not include a buckle 150; however, the buckle 150 may beprovided in other embodiments to accomplish the same function asdescribed above to close the opening 110.

Preferred, the buckle 150 could be disposed on the first elastic plate122 and the second elastic plate 124 in the present embodiment.

Additionally, the first elastic plate 122 and the second elastic plate124 mentioned in the present invention can be fixed to the opening 110by sewing or adhesive bonding, but the present invention does not limitthe above fixing methods. Any method that can achieve the function ofdeforming the first elastic plate 122 and the second elastic plate 124and simultaneously opening the opening 110 is within the scope ofprotection of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a top view schematic diagram from the opening of the sixthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention.The component symbols mentioned in this preferred embodiment can bereferred to in FIGS. 2 through 9 and henceforth will not be repeated.The difference between this preferred embodiment and the first preferredembodiment is that the elastic closure unit 120 is moved to the centerof the mesh container 11, that is, it is not limited to being set on oneside of the mesh container 11, and can be adjusted according to usagerequirements.

FIG. 10 shows a top view schematic diagram of the seventh preferredembodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present invention from itsopening. Please refer to FIGS. 2 to 8 for the component symbolsmentioned in this preferred embodiment, which will not be repeated here.The difference between this preferred embodiment and the first preferredembodiment is that the elastic closure unit 120 only includes the firstelastic plate 122. It should be noted that the first elastic member 122is sewn or glued to a portion of the opening 110, and under the actionof elasticity, the opening 110 will still remain closed.

Please note that although in the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, the first elastic plate 122 and the second elastic plate 124are curved in the closed state, it does not limit them to change shapewhen subject to different shapes of the elastic closure unit 120. Thefirst elastic plate 122 and the second elastic plate 124 can havedifferent shapes (such as S-shaped or U-shaped, etc.), as long as theystill have the function of closing the opening 110 as described above,which falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

FIG. 11 depicts a top view schematic diagram illustrating the eighthpreferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag of the present inventionfrom the opening. The component symbols mentioned in this preferredembodiment can be referred to in FIGS. 2 to 9 and will not be repeatedhere. The difference between the preferred embodiment and the firstpreferred embodiment is that at least one blocking member 160 isadditionally provided. The at least one blocking member 160 is disposedon the first elastic plate 122 and the second elastic plate 124, and theat least one blocking member 160 is disposed from the first tab 122 andthe second tab 124 toward the opening. In detail, in the preferredembodiment, the at least one blocking member 160 is a sheet-likestructure, which can further prevent laundry from falling out when theopening 110 is closed. The shape of the at least one blocking member 160can be changed according to actual usage requirements, and is notlimited thereto.

FIG. 12 depicts an exploded top view schematic diagram illustrating theeighth preferred embodiment of the mesh laundry bag 900 of the presentinvention. Reference may be made to FIGS. 2 through 9 for the componentsymbols mentioned in this preferred embodiment, which are not repeatedhere for the sake of brevity.

In this preferred embodiment, a pair of elongated parts 170 isadditionally provided, which distinguishes it from the first preferredembodiment. In this embodiment, the two ends of the first elastic plate122 and the second elastic plate 124 are not fixed to each other but areeach attached to one of the pair of elongated parts 170. The two ends ofthe pair of elongated parts 170 are fixed to each other. Each extensionmember 170 in this embodiment comprises two pieces (or one completepiece, not limited to this), fixed at the two ends of the first elasticplate 122 and the two ends of the second elastic plate 124,respectively. It is important to note that the two ends of the extensionmember shown in the figure are fixed to each other after assembly. Thispreferred embodiment offers the advantage of a fixed size for theelastic closure unit 120, while the size of the opening 110 can beincreased to fit different mesh laundry bags by adjusting the length ofthe pair of elongated parts 170.

It should be noted that the various technical features of the preferredembodiments mentioned in this invention can be combined with oneanother. For example, the buckle 150 in the present invention isprovided on the holding part 140, but can also be directly provided onthe first elastic plate 122 and the second elastic plate 124 in anembodiment without the holding part 140. As long as the followingimportant functions are present: 1. The opening and closing of theopening 110 can be achieved using only one hand; 2. The closing positionof the opening 110 can be maintained by elastic force, and is notlimited to the embodiments described above.

As described above, although the present invention comprises beendescribed with the preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in theart will appreciate that various modifications, additions, andsubstitutions are possible without departing from the scope and thespirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventionis intended to be defined only by reference to the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mesh laundry bag, comprising: a mesh container,including an opening; an elastic closure unit, disposing on the openingto securely keep the opening closed.
 2. The mesh laundry bag accordingto claim 1, wherein the elastic closure unit comprises at least oneelastic plate.
 3. The mesh laundry bag according to claim 1, wherein theat least one elastic plate comprises a first elastic plate and a secondelastic plate, with both ends of the first elastic plate and the secondelastic plate fixed to each other.
 4. The mesh laundry bag according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one elastic plate comprises a pair offorce-bearing parts capable of receiving a pair of external force toopen the opening.
 5. The mesh laundry bag according to claim 4, whereinthe pair of force-bearing parts are selected from the group consistingof bump, hole, groove, pull ring, and pull rod.
 6. The mesh laundry bagaccording to claim 4, wherein the at least one elastic plate comprises aholding part, disposed between the pair of force-bearing parts.
 7. Themesh laundry bag according to claim 1, wherein the pair of force-bearingparts are spaced apart at a specific distance; the specific distanceranging from 1 cm to 20 cm.
 8. The mesh laundry bag according to claim2, wherein a buckle is disposed on the elastic closure unit and/or theopening.
 9. The mesh laundry bag according to claim 1, wherein at leastone blocking member is disposed on the at least one elastic plate,positioned in a direction from the at least one elastic plate to theopening when the opening is in the open state.
 10. The mesh laundry bagaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic plate comprises afirst elastic plate, a second elastic plate, and a pair of elongatedparts; the first elastic plate and the second elastic plate are disposedon each of the pair of elongated parts, with both ends of the pair ofelongated parts fixed to each other.